Police investigate sex assault, robbery in Northern Liberties

Northern Liberties (WTXF) - Police are investigating a sex assault and robbery in Northern Liberties.

It was 2:30 Monday morning when police say a 29-year-old South Jersey woman had just left the SugarHouse Casino when suddenly she felt something pressed against her back.

"He approaches her from behind, puts a hard object, which we believe is a firearm or at least what he suggested was a firearm," Philadelphia Police Captain Sekou Kinebrew said.

Police say the gunman walked the woman to a big field off the 400 block of North Water Street where he attacked her.

"At that point, he not only robs her, but he also sexually assaults her," Captain Kinebrew explained

Police say the suspect is in his mid-40s, about 215 pounds and muscular. Investigators are now trying to figure out if this could be linked to 3 unsolved gunpoint sexual assaults and robberies near Fairmount Park.

"We don't know if this is connected at this point with the ones we discussed in West Philadelphia, but we're not ruling it out," Captain Kinebrew said.

The suspect stole the victim's purse with $300 in cash, her ID and credit cards. Police say he escaped on foot. They are retrieving surveillance video from the SugarHouse and the surrounding area looking for images of the suspect.